Due to their favorable performance characteristics, Li‐ion batteries have rapidly emerged as the preferred energy storage option for numerous planetary exploration missions. Furthermore, with the wide variety of electrode materials and cell designs available, Li‐ion battery technology can be specifically tailored to mission needs such as high specific energy, high‐power capability, longer life, or lower operating temperatures. The use of non‐aqueous organic electrolyte enables the Li‐ion cells to operate well at low temperatures. Not surprisingly, with these flexible design options, Li‐ion batteries have successfully supported numerous robotic planetary exploration missions in the past two decades, operating in conjunction with either photovoltaic or nuclear radioisotope power sources. Robotic missions include various spacecraft such as planetary orbiters, landers, and rovers and to different destinations such as the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and various asteroids. Li‐ion batteries have both enabled and significantly enhanced these missions and are continuing to improve with a higher specific energy, energy density, and cycle life. This chapter describes various planetary missions, in the recent past and in the near future, that have or will utilize lithium‐ion battery technologies and the prospects of these batteries for future planetary missions.
Planetary Spacecraft Batteries
2022-12-02
34 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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